In response to the recent story regarding Usher’s son’s near drowning at his home in Atlanta, we at SafeSplash would love to partner with you to encourage all Colorado families to install VGB compliant drain covers in their homes. While these covers are only required in public pools, these accidents happen much more often in private pools.

Entrapment is not uncommon in the US and according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, happens most often in those between 5 and 9 years old. Regardless of adults being present, as in the case of Usher’s son, the victim is tangled in the drain and sometimes requires the help of various individuals to be freed.

In 2007 there were 74 reported cases and the following year the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Safety Act went into effect, taking its name from former Secretary of State James Baker III’s granddaughter Virginia Graeme Baker. This act states that all commercial pools are required to have suction covers that prevent entrapment, be it motels/hotels or public pools

We at SafeSplash consider the safety of our swimmers to be our number one priority. All SafeSplash pools are VGB compliant. This is done by means of various evaluations to choose the proper drain cover including outlet conditions and dimensions, selecting correct drain ratings, matching recirculation system to velocity, as well as others. We have passed local and national inspections to prove compliance and have certifications of compliancy on-site at all locations.

We believe that not only should public pools have these systems but all private pools should as well. We want our swimmers to be swimming safely wherever they are. It’s important to know how these systems work, so pool-owners to bring these systems into their homes, thereby helping assure the safety of Colorado’s children and preventing accidents such as this one from happening in the future. Click here for more information.